PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Three podiums stood on the stage at Muhlenberg College Sunday afternoon for a debate between Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate, but only two were filled.
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania’s 17th District threw some digs at their no-show competitor, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. It is not clear why he did not show.
Prior to the debate, Lamb accused Fetterman of skipping candidate forums to avoid talking about a 2013 incident in which he confronted a Black man, shotgun in hand, because he suspected the man was involved in gunfire nearby. That man was unarmed and said he was out jogging when Fetterman drove up and pointed a shotgun at him. Fetterman has denied pointing a gun at him or skipping forums because of it.
Aside from criticism of Fetterman, Lamb and Kenyatta debated on hot topics ranging from student loan debt to natural gas to gun violence.
Moderators asked both men to talk about a situation where they erred in judgment and how they learned from it. Kenyatta cited a bill he supported but later realized later it was the wrong tool, then touched on gun violence in Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia has already had over 100 people murdered just this year,” said Kenyatta. “I could go home today and see another person or hear of another person gunned down on my block.
“We have to get to the root causes of gun violence. We have to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.”
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During his turn for the same question, Lamb referenced a time when he was asked about new gun laws after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. At the time that he was asked, Lamb said laws don’t need to be changed but need to be enforced. He changed his tune after getting more experience in Congress.
“The task of actually making us safer from gun violence is inseparable from passing new laws,” he said.
Lamb said he has even gone against his own party lines in some instances.
“On a number of key issues, I have been there with the Democrats,” he said. “There are other issues, though, that you always have to represent your district, and I would say fracking and natural gas development is a good example.”
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In an email, Fetterman’s team said the lieutenant governor has agreed to three other televised debates.
The candidates are looking to fill Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey’s seat, as he is not seeking re-election. The primary election is on May 17.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.